Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray Phaseolus coccineus L. Phaseolus dumosus Macfad. Phaseolus filiformis Benth. Phaseolus glabellus Piper Phaseolus leptostachyus Benth. Phaseolus lunatus L. Phaseolus maculatus Scheele Phaseolus ritensis M. E. Jones Phaseolus salicifolius Piper Phaseolus vulgaris L. Leguminosae/Fabaceae

Abstract

Throughout Mexico, most of the approximately 60 species of Phaseolus are found in a wide range of ecological environments and from an altitude at sea level to 3000 m high. In addition, the wild progenitors of the five domesticated species, common bean (P. vulgaris), lima, comba or ib (P. lunatus), ayocote or botil (P. coccineus), tepari or escumite (P. acutifolius), and acalete or gordo (P. dumosus), also occur within the territorial limits of the country. This chapter aims to give a brief morphological description, nomenclature synonyms, distribution, ecology, and local uses and names, some in native languages of 11 species of wild Phaseolus species that are introduced below.